Carvin Amps

[nooklear]

I've been lookin for a nice tube combo, and this one sounds pretty nice. Anyone have any experience with Carvin amps?

This is from their site:

MTS3212 COMBO
Reverb—both channels
• Dual channels (clean & crunch/sustain) with separate level controls
• 50 /100 watt output switch for tube saturation at lower levels
• Bias switch for your choice of 5881, 6L6GC’s or EL34 power tubes (supplied with 5881)
• The cabinet voiced line output jack delivers the natural “mic’d” sound direct to your mixer
• A 4, 8 or 16ý switch allows your choice of speakers
• A normalized Effects Loop is featured for foot effects as well a rack effects
• The optional FS22 foot switch is for selecting channels and reverb
• Tubes: four 5881, five 12AX7A
• Hand crafted 7-ply poplar wood cabinet (not particle board) covered in a rich black protective vinyl

*It comes with a pair of Celestion G12T-75's


I'd be playing alot of high gain metal on it. But I'd want something that can handle other stuff as well...would this be any good?

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Carvin Amps

Those amps are VERY good for their price especially. I think you'd be happy with it. I have a Legacy and the MTS series are more oriented toward high gain and crunch, and do mid to low gain situations well too. I would swap out the stock tubes for EL34's or 6L6's though.

The legacy has a lot of "character" and the lead channel is very "different". I have a love/hate relationship with it but it's not a bad amp at all. Sometimes I play through it and it's fantastic, other times it's blah. It's not really an amp you can be lazy while playing through.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Carvin Amps

I have to add that since you're looking for a combo, the Traynor 50blue is an AMAZING AMP. I would recommend that over the Carvin even.

 

[nooklear]

Re: Carvin Amps

I have to add that since you're looking for a combo, the Traynor 50blue is an AMAZING AMP. I would recommend that over the Carvin even.

cool thanks! i was looking at those, but wasnt sure since i heard that other traynor amps arent really geared towards hi gain type stuff. I'll have to check it out.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Carvin Amps

cool thanks! i was looking at those, but wasnt sure since i heard that other traynor amps arent really geared towards hi gain type stuff. I'll have to check it out.

Yeah this one is a little a$$ kicker.

 

[saladin]

Re: Carvin Amps

I have a MTS Head. I got it with JJ preamp tubes and 6L6'S. Way too much bass in the sound so I picked up a quad of Svetlana EL-34's and they sound much better. I actually don't use the distortion channel. I prefer to use pedals for that. Don't expect these to sound like a Mesa or Marshall, Carvin's got their own sound going on. I bought the amp for the clean channel and with the EL-34's it is one of the best i've heard in a 100 watt amp! The reverb is great and the effects loop works well with pedals and rack stuff. The biggest problem with the MTS series is that the dist. channel uses cliping diodes instead of cascading tubes, ala Boogies. It's kind of like having a built in distortion box. Some people may like it's sound but I don't. Check the Carvin forum, it's good and they have alot of posts on these amps. Hope this helps.